| Virginia offers several top-quality lakes and rivers | | | | West Virginia, biologists have recently identified a |
| to fish for walleye. Spawning season occurs in | | | | new breed of walleye, the Ohio River drainage |
| early springtime. Walleye leave the comforts of | | | | walleye. Fishing officials are working to stock |
| deep water and head towards the shallower | | | | rivers with this new breed of walleye. |
| depths often found in feeder streams. Bottom | | | | Currently, the Kanawha, Ohio and New Rivers are |
| surface conditions are clear and clean. Deeper | | | | greatly benefiting from this new program. The |
| waters are never far away. | | | | Kanawha River in West Virginia is the notable |
| Spawning females require a few days of rest | | | | place to seek out large sized walleye. Each year, |
| following a spawning period. After this, they are | | | | walleye pulled from these waters weigh in |
| looking for that first meal and the bite will be | | | | between eight and fourteen pounds. Even the |
| fierce. Spawn and immediate post-spawn periods | | | | best walleye anglers rarely see a walleye of this |
| are ideal for anglers to fish walleye. Outside of | | | | size. The Virginia record weighing walleye at 17.85 |
| spawning season, walleye are particular about | | | | pounds back in 2003 came from this very river. |
| where they hang out. | | | | The key to finding these big boys begins with |
| Water temperatures normally fall between 38 and | | | | where to start. |
| 60 degrees. Water conditions are slightly murky | | | | Look to the inlets. As spawning season draws |
| with little or no current movement. Bottom | | | | near, walleye start seeking out shallower water |
| surface conditions are comprised of gravel, sand | | | | levels. To do this, they virtually pass by any |
| or rocks. Menu choices cover small fish, | | | | available inlet along the way. The area below |
| crustaceans, worms and insects. Ideal fishing time | | | | dams, commonly referred to as the tailrace, is |
| is during warm weather months from sundown to | | | | another walleye hotspot location. When spawning |
| midnight. | | | | seasons begins to end, turn attention towards |
| Virginia lakes cover a solid portion of the state | | | | deeper water. Pools and channels along the river |
| and each is good size in nature. The largest lake in | | | | course is where walleye lurk. Ideal times are |
| the state is Smith Mountain Lake. This massive | | | | between late evening and dark once water |
| lake stands at 20,000-acres in size and makes | | | | temperatures are on the rise. |
| home in the south-central portion of the state in | | | | The recent walleye stocking program has done |
| Penhook, Virginia. | | | | wonders for the Ohio River. This program is |
| Next is the 10,000-acre South Holston Lake | | | | steadily increasing the quantities and sizes of |
| creating the southern border of Virginia in | | | | walleyes. The walleye reside in fast-paced water |
| Abingdon. Traveling north, there is Lake Anna, | | | | conditions of dams and upper pool areas. The |
| which is a bit smaller at 9,600-acres. This lake | | | | best fishing technique for the Ohio River is jigs |
| makes a home in Bumpass, Virginia. The remaining | | | | containing minnows or live bait. Pair these |
| four Virginia lakes suited for walleye fishing are by | | | | selections with slip bobber rigs. These two will |
| no means small. | | | | function together to keep bait in contact with |
| Claytor Lake stands 4,500-acres in the | | | | bottom surfaces. |
| south-west area of the state at Radford, Virginia. | | | | In the Monongahela River, walleye frequent slack |
| Following this is Leesville Reservoir. This | | | | water pools and channels. Anywhere along the |
| 3,400-acre lake falls in south-central Pittsville, | | | | river course is relatively decent place to fish for |
| Virginia. Philpott Lake, 2,900-acres, also resides in | | | | walleye. Other key areas in this river are weed |
| this area at Bassett, Virginia. | | | | beds. Pay specific attention to bottom structures |
| Finally, there is Lake Chesdin, at 3,100-acres in | | | | such as tree stumps or rocks. Navigate these |
| Petersburg, Virginia. The record walleye caught in | | | | structures in as many ways as possible. There is |
| Virginia is 15 lbs. 15 ozs. Virginia lakes and | | | | no way to tell which direction walleye are facing |
| reservoirs maintain a healthy level of pre-stocked | | | | on any given day. Key times to seek out walleye |
| walleye fish. Rivers are a different matter. In | | | | are during low light, warm water conditions. |